I was playing my very last program of the month in a senior community’s windowed dining room when the summer storm blew in. Rain sho
t the windows, pine trees bent horizontal and thunder boomed between every other phrase. I was an hour from home with an expensive instrument and the threats of a tornado. But I didn’t pause playing—it was the perfect sound effects.
Normally the Fourth of July rings with trumpets and drums, the rhythm of marches and the thunder of exploding fireworks. But harpists have patriotic feelings too! For the last few weeks I’ve been melding the harp’s melodious sounds to a program of patriotic music, putting my monthly audiences in a red white and blue mood.
I started with a musical tour of America, playing songs with states names in them such as The Yellow Rose of Texas, the Tennessee Waltz and My Old Kentucky Home. After going all the way out to Hawaii with Aloha Oe, I brought the music Back Home Again in Indiana. In my state we sing about “spacious skies and amber waves of corn” instead of grain.
To celebrate the American musical landscape, I even pulled out the classical melody Largo from Dvorak’s New World Symphony. The Czech composer wrote his most popular symphony while living in America, inspired by Native America tunes and southern spirituals he learned from his African American classmate. Since I didn’t pack a full orchestra into my harp bag, I just played the theme from the middle of the Symphony. The melody rises like morning mist off a mid-western lake.
I took the second half of the program to thank those who have served or are serving in our military, mustering all the octaves on the harp to play the Armed Forces Medley. Even though my own family served in the Navy, I tried not to give any special consideration to Anchors Away. We also prayed for the safety of the military personal with the hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save and sang about the excitement of the servicemen returning in When Johnny comes Marching Home, I finished with probably my favorite patriotic song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and often my whole audience would raise their voices during the infectious chorus. The battle belongs to the Lord.
I had played this program seven times when the summer storm interrupted my last performance and grabbed the attention of my Alzheimer’s audience. I couldn’t compete with the frightening light show outside the windows. But I didn’t mind the storm. I was ready to play the Star Spangled Banner and the thunder provided free sound effects for the “bombs bursting in air.” Not to mention the “thundering” applause!
So that was my red, white and blue program. God bless America, don’t let off any fireworks inside and I hope see you for next month’s program!